International Day for Disabled Persons to be re-named

December 3, 2007 is International Day for Disabled Persons; however, the day is terribly misnamed. The word “disabled” is a negative label and should not be used to describe those living with disabilities. The United Nations has stated the name will be changed shortly.

We call on the Province of Prince Edward Island and the Government of Canada call it the “International Day for People Living with Disabilities” and not to use the pejorative and incorrect term “Disabled”.

The United Nations has acknowledged “Indeed, the member states of the United Nations are currently considering the recommendation to officially change the name of the day.” (Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities October 29, 2007)

As to when the Day will be named correctly, the Secretariat said “We hope this issue will be resolved shortly. However, until the name is officially changed, we are unfortunately required to continue using the old terminology. We are very aware of the issue and are actively pursuing its resolution.”

Prince Edward Island and Canada are not required to use the old incorrect name. The International Day is sponsored by the United Nations and many governments around the world give note to this day. The purpose is to draw attention to plight of those with disabilities.

If people living with disabilities are in need of pity and charity then the label “disabled” is an apt one. Persons without a disability are encouraged to “feel sorry” for them.

The “charity model” has no place in today’s society. Canadians living with disabilities have the same rights as all Canadians, guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They have or are living with a disability: they are not disabled.

Negative labels and stereotyping are not benign. They impact on the freedom and self-worth of all minorities, including those living with disabilities. Call someone negro and they are a slave: call them black and they are proud. Interestingly some populations within a minority will fight to retain the old stereotyped names.

Wikipedia says, on the subject of using negative labels:

“The goal of changing language and terminology consists of several points, including:
1. Certain people have their rights, opportunities, or freedoms restricted due to their categorization as members of a group with a derogatory stereotype.
2. This categorization is largely implicit and unconscious, and is facilitated by the easy availability of labeling (sic) terminology.
3. By making the labeling terminology problematic, people are made to think consciously about how they describe someone.
4. Once labeling is a conscious activity, individual merits of a person, rather than their perceived membership in a group, become more apparent.
The situation is complicated by the fact that members of identity groups sometimes embrace terms that others seek to change.”